I have this blog as a place to share my creative self -- be it card making, music playing, scrapbooking, altered art, home decor, or whatever direction my art takes me. My dogs are always a part of my home life, so they have to be a part of my blog, too.

Don't you wish your hair looked like that? All shiny and pretty? I wish I was brave like this little witch. My hair has never even seen a bottle of dye. And, those shoes! Green! What could be better than green shoes?!?

After I had the fun of coloring Unkytoon Bundled Up with Copic Markers, I used a Spellbinders die to cut out the image. The snowflakes are a die from Cheery Lynn. The designer papers are from Echo Park. There's a bit of silver shimmer trim from Close To My Heart to finish it off.

I used an Art by Miran image on this card. It is part of a progressive challenge. I got this first image at a discount. I'll enter it this month, and get next month's free. What a great way to get a collection of wonderful digis from an artist I admire!

I colored this image with Copic markers. I used several Spellbinders dies to cut it out. All the papers are from Close To My Heart.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Happy Hump Day! The last one in January. Where has this month gone? I'm posting today for Snapdragon Snippets. I love their files -- they are so versatile! I'll show you a bit of that versatility today with 2 cards.

First, a Valentine's Day card where I used my Silhouette Cameo, a Snapdragon Snippets Valentine card file, and a stamp set, then a card that looks like a quilt -- for those of us that like quilts but can't make them.

The Valentine's Day card:

This card, called the A2 Inward Heart Card, is available at the Silhouette Design Store. I used different shades of Valentine papers and layered up the hearts. Then, I got out a Close To My Heart stamp set and did a bit of simple stamping on it. Poof! It's done!

I made a quilt once. I took a class. It was called "Quilt in a Day." It took me longer than that just to buy the fabric. Many months later, my quilt was done. Now, I stick to quilt themed cards. I can usually make one of those in a day -- if I stay on task!

Maybe it's my Norwegian heritage, but I find this pattern very appealing. I used double sided card stock from Echo Park, so this went together very quickly. It is already distressed, so I didn't even have to do that!

Monday, January 26, 2015

I did it, I did it! I colored my first ever Aurora Wings image. I love the artwork by Mitzi Sato-Wiuff, and I have purchased several of her digis from her Etsy store. Until today, I haven't been brave enough to tackle one. I had a free afternoon, so I gave it a go.

I colored the image with Copic markers. I used a Lawn Fawn die to cut out the image. The designer paper is from American Crafts XOXO Collection. The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM. It is from the Baby Bundle. I computer generated the sentiment. The bling gems are from Prima Marketing. The stickpins are by Petaloo. I added some glitter accents to the flowers (visible only in real life) with a Wink of Stella clear glitter brush.

I believe I just made my husband's Valentine's Day card. That makes me feel like dancing!

The plans I had made for today were cancelled due to snow and freezing drizzle so I have an unexpected day of crating time. I'm using it to practice my coloring and enter a couple challenges. This little cutie, from Gerda Steiner, is part of a progressive challenge. You buy the first image, then enter the challenge, and the next month is free! I love her whimsical images, so, here goes!

Meet Oscar!

I have a friend with a weiner dog named Oscar. He's a long-haired Dachshund. If you squint your eyes just right, he looks kind of like this. Kinda.

Friday, January 23, 2015

It's Friday, and time for a new challenge at QKR Stampede Challenge Blog. This week's theme is one of my favorites -- shaped cards. Since Valentine's Day is coming up soon, I created a shaped card with that theme in mind:

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Another Christmas card. What am I thinking? This one is for The Outlawz Progressive Freebie Challenge.

The delightful free image this month is from All Dressed Up, and she was such a joy to color. That is the reason for the sentiment I chose! It was pure joy making this card.

This Christmas girl is colored with Copic markers. I used 2 different Spellbinders dies, then mounted her to a designer paper from American Crafts -- Noel 6x6 paper pad. The card base and bling are from Close To My Heart. The crinkle ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM. It is from the Ribbon Candy Bundle.

I have a very special friend, one of the first people I met when I moved to Chetek nearly 30 years ago, who is turning 95 in a couple months. I decided to use the 2015 Day Calendar Printable Set to make a very special birthday card:

Milt's birthday is, obviously, March 26, so I printed that day from the set. I also used the Birthday Tags Printable Set for the "wish" sentiment, punched with a 1 1/2 inch circle punch.

The papers have been in my stash forever. I believe they are from My Mind's Eye. I made the flowers using Ariana stamps and dies by Heartfelt Creations. The Kraft card base is from Close To My Heart.

I wanted the card to have a masculine feel, yet be for a man who always had a beautiful flower garden. I hope I pulled it off!

Visit The Cutting Cafe blog on Jan. 21 or later to see the other wonderful creations from this talented design team. Leave a comment on the post for a chance to win 3 sets of your choice. There are many wonderful sets to choose from!

Don't put those Christmas stamps and digis away just yet! I'm posting today for Amy Doodle's Stamp Company, and our challenge this week is to use a digi in an unusual way. So, I used a Christmas stamp and turned it into a Valentine's Day card.

With a little editing magic (cropping out the mistletoe), the birds can be used for just about any season.

I colored Mistletoe Owls with Copic markers, then used some Wink of Stella markers to add some hints of glitter.

The heart-shaped card, by Snapdragon Snippets, an be found HERE. The card stock and Flair button are from Close To My Heart. The designer paper is from Echo Park and the ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Check the Amy Doodle's Stamp Co Facebook page for more great inspiration and lots of FUN!

I've been wanting to color up this amazingly adorable bird digi, so I did:

He's got attitude, doesn't he? I used a QKR Stampede (our sister company) digi, Walking Birdie (digi14706) and colored him with Copic markers. The sentiment is another QKR Stampede digi "Ruffle Feathers" (digi15103). I used several sizes of Spellbinder circle dies to make this card.

Sunday, January 18, 2015

I fell in love with this 'The East Wind' image as soon as I saw it. What's not to love? Hair piled high, reading a book, animals, birds, hearts, and a chopstick. Pure bliss!

The original image I purchased looked like this.

I got busy creating.

I colored Lucy Loo first, using Copic markers. Oh, that hair! It was so. much. fun! Then, I found a digi from DigiStamps4Joy in my collection that I knew would work perfectly -- the stack of books.

I printed the books and the computer generated sentiment on watercolor paper. I used my NEW Prismacolor pencils on the books and a watercolor wash behind where Lucy Loo is placed. I matted it all on several matching shades of card stock.

The East Wind Challenge blog has a Winter Blues challenge happening right now, and I made this into a bookmark with that challenge in mind. What better way to beat the winter blues than to get lost in a book?!? I think that's what this girl is doing -- she's in another world, she's so absorbed in her good book. She doesn't even know it's way below zero!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

At each stop of the hop we hope you will be inspired by the creativity of the design teams of Snapdragon Snippets and SVG Attic. You are sure to find many wonderful projects that will be at the top of your crafting lists!

You should be arriving from the very talented Debb's blog.If you happened across this post out of order and wish to participate, please head on over to the SVGAttic blog to start at the beginning of the hop.

Here is the project I created for this hop:

This 3D Heart bowl is really big! It'll hold a bunch of chocolates for your sweetheart (or whatever else you decide to put in it!) Here's a closeup of one of the panels. This design is available in the Snapdragon Snippets Store HERE . I found this design in the Silhouette Online Store here.

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on our hop! Be sure to
head on over to the other stops for more love/Valentine’s Day inspiration, comment and become a follower to be eligible for the prizes!I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:Creative Cutting Challenge -- ATGD.L. Art Thankful Thursday Challenge -- Anything Red

It's the weekend! I hope you are enjoying yourselves and finding some time for crafting. I'm guest designing today at The Outlawz Challenge blog, Paper A la Mode group. I'm representing Fitztown. The theme this week is Animals.

Friday, January 16, 2015

It's Friday, and time for another challenge at QKR Stampede. This week, our theme is "Cupid" -- good incentive to get going on those Valentine cards.

Here's mine!

This darling bear, who somehow managed to get pierced with Cupid's arrow, is a QKR Stampede digi "Cupid Bear" (d9g910602). I colored him with Copic markers, and while the image was in a Spellbinder label die, I inked it with 2 shades of Tim Holtz distress ink.

All the papers on this card are from Close To My Heart. The sentiment was cut out from the paper edge of one of the papers in the CTMH Heartstrings Paper Pack.

The lace and crinkle ribbon on this card are from 3 Girl JAM -- my favorite place for ribbons and trims! I'm also happy to announce that I am on the 3 Girl JAM team again in 2015. You can read the announcement and learn about this year's design team members on a post here.

Join us this week at QKR Stampede for our Cupid challenge. I'd love to see what you make!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Did I scare you with that title? I want to show you my second Christmas card of 2015. My goal is to get one or 2 made each month. I accomplished this last year, and it made December a little less overwhelming. Today's card uses an image from our sponsor, Limited Runs, and papers from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles.

I used the Limited Runs image "Poinsettia Cupcake" on this card, and "A Matter of Time" papers.

The image was colored with Copic markers, then cut out with a couple sizes of a Spellbinder die. The digi papers were printed on my Canon printer. The card base is Close To My Heart Barn Red card stock. I used a We R Memory Keepers Scallop Corner Chomper on some of the edges.

I colored Dozy Owl with Copic markers. It's winter where I live, and bitterly cold. These bright colors were just what I needed the day I made this card.

The papers and sentiment on this card are from Close To My Heart. The fun crinkle ribbon -- one of my favorite things(!) is from 3 Girl JAM. I used a Spellbinder die on the card, too.

I made this colorful owl with the Path of Positivity challenge blog in mind. Their theme this month is "uniqueness". The colors I chose are certainly unique for an owl. We all need to embrace the characteristics God gave us that make us unique -- our talents, our looks, even our quirks. Our uniqueness is a gift that should be celebrated. That is the whole point of this card. This bird is unique, and he knows it!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Are you staying warm? It's cold where I live. I'm ready to hitch a ride, even if it's on the back of a flamingo -- a coffee drinking flamingo! This caffeinated fella is from Amy Doodle's Stamp Company!

Hey, whatever it takes, right? She's got the right idea, drinking coffee and heading on out of here! I colored Bridgette the Caffeinated Flamingo with Copic markers, using bright pink colors, then fussy cut her.

I cut the tag out on my Cricut Expression 2, using the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge. All papers are from CTMH.

Monday, January 12, 2015

It's Monday, and time for a new challenge at Eureka Stamps. This week's theme is: "Baby, it's Cold Outside". And it is! We might actually get above zero today for the first time in about 5 days. Heat wave!

I used 2 snow related digi stamps from Eureka Stamps for today's card...

Sunday, January 11, 2015

One of today's new releases is perfect for me for several reasons -- I'm a tea snob, drinking very little beside tea. It's also been very cold here -- well below zero --so tea is the perfect beverage for right now!